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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Ankle Socks: Yea or Nay?

Have you seen the spread "Retro Modern" in the new issue of Lucky magazine? I think it is beyond fabulous. I love the hair, the makeup, the bold color combos, and the swingy 50s-style skirts. But all this is to be expected of me. I was, however, surprised to find how much I liked the stylist's use of ankle socks.

Are you feeling the ankle sock love, readers? Look how cute with pumps and t-straps!

I realize this might not be a popular opinion, hence the "nay" option in the title of this post. And, granted, I've never tried to wear ankle socks and it may prove to be rather unflattering on me. But you never know until you experiment, right? I'm excited to buy some for fall and give this look a go. (The Lucky spread sourced their socks here.)

119 comments:

I think if done well socks with heels can be adorable, and I'm certainly a fan of the first two pictures. The second two strike me as a bit odd though - the t-bars remind me too much of the shoes I used to wear in kindergarten, while the black socks with green shoes just looks... out of place. I do definitely think that they look great with full skirts, but I'm too much a fan of fancy stockings to wear socks.

Yea! I swear by ankle socks and have for quite some time now. I prefer them with flats, though. Some have suggested that short girls shouldn't wear them but I scoff at those people. ;] They're very cute, bordering on twee, but that's what I like about them. I read somewhere that a lot of teenaged girls started wearing them in the '40s due to shortage of stockings...not sure if that's accurate but, well, there you go.Andi x

They look cute on these leggy models. I have thicker ankles then this and my calves are shorter than my thighs, so they might not flatter me as much as knee high or thigh high socks. Cute concept though.

i always liked the look on tall and long-legged models, but whenever i try something similar i see myself transforming into a treestump. no matter what skirt length or shoe i wear. so for me personally it's a nay, on others a definite yea!

I'm not sure about the ankle socks on someone my age - but you younger women could definitely pull off that look. BTW, the website you linked to is way cool -it has plus-size tights in fun colors!!!! Thanks for that.

hmmm... I think I'm with Rad_in_Brooklyn, annet, and others... They look great on these long-legged models but I'm thinking I'm too short and don't have the ankles to pull this off. And I would be afraid that outside the controlled environment of a stylized magazine spread, socks with heels might look a bit frumpy or strange...

Well, I am 1/4 inch off from being 6 feet tall and I don't think I would do it. I would walk around all morning and keep looking in the mirror and then take them off at the last second before leaving the house. I love the idea but think that it would work for a select few. I DO love the first 2 pics, so cute! If I were a teenager I'd definitely go for it.

One of those things which look great on models but wouldn't work in real life. Overly sweet at best, stump inducing and plain silly at worst. I'm telling this to myself too, because those pictures are quite tempting. Fortunately, a pair of socks is not a great expense, so trying out wouldn't hurt.

It took me a few times to wear the socks out because I kept deciding my outfit looked more elegant without them. But this look isn't about long slender legs or looking tall and elegant. So you just have to put your socks on and realise no one is going to notice if your legs look a bit shorter or they look less sexy because they'll be too busy noticing how cute you look in your new socks.

I have little white lace ones, shorter than the ones in your post, that make otherwise simple outfits look pulled together and creative.

Ankle socks and heels reminds of the one and only time I went to a lapdancing club (don't ask) and a load of the strippers wore little girl socks and those lucite heels. I think it scarred me for life.

It bothers me when fashion editors promote ideas that would make 95% of the population look more, rather than less, frumpy. A few years ago it was anoraks with cocktail dresses. This strikes me the same way. It looks great on the models and it might look good on a few "real life" women. But it won't work for most people.

Reading the comments on this today was really interesting for me. It's surprising how many people think they can't wear something for fear of making their body look less than ideal or less than it's best. I can understand it, I feel the same way a lot of days as I am a bit over my ideal weight. However on some level I am struggling against limiting myself in what I like to wear because I am worried that others will think I am less than perfect or less than attractive for it. If you like the asthetic, I think you should do it and not worry about how your ankles or calves look. In fact, to be honest I don't think that anyone out there in the world cares how big or thick my anyone else's ankles are. So I say YES GO FOR IT. Show us that it really doesn't matter at all how tall we are or if our ankles may look thick compared to someone else's ankles!

Yay! Love the look - not sure I could pull it off, but I did just get a cigarette pants pattern so I will be sporting the pants and pump look (not sure about the socks though) and the handbag is "fabulous" in that photo.

I think yea - ankle socks can be über-adorable! But, it just doesn't work with any old outfit (and I think sadly, bodytype). I think the two last outfits would be the most sucessful outside of a fashion spread, because it's a solid nod to a certain era, but it's not too exclusivly 50s or 60s. To me, the appeal is in the quirky nod. And the heels, it seems, is a must.

Yes! I love them with flats and skirts or dresses. There are some days I just can't be bothered with heels or they're too impractical. I think they're cute.Don't like them on the last pic with capris, though.

I love ankle socks but NEVER with heeled pumps or with T-straps of any kind. I wear them with heeled or flat oxfords and, of course, with saddle shoes and loafers. With pumps and T-straps, I fear they look too day-glo '80s. The 80s sock/pump look, I think was supposed to recall the 50s as well...

I think they're a great look, especially on these models. Not so sure it would be a great look for me, being 45. I'm willing to give it a try. My test will be my teenage daughter. If she laughs, then I know it's not for me. I just think it depends on the person. Not everything will work for everyone. You just have to give it a try and see. You could try it out, then ask us to vote. That would be fun.

I definitely want to give it a try! I think they are darling! The looks look so Fall fresh and sort of innocent school girlish. I definitely say Yay, I mean at least give a try. Thanks for the inspiration!

However, I share the opinion that on women who have short legs or curvier calves (I fall into both of these categories), they just look dumpy and unflattering. I feel the same way about ankle boots... cute on someone, just not me.

oh LOVED that section! i kept the magazine just for that! the outfits are soo cute and YES to the ankle socks although i am trying to work it into my wardrobe but not sure the look the is for me but anyone that can pull off i say you go!

I work at David's Bridal and back in the sewing area we are required to wear close toed shoes... so I went and bought this great pair of Mary Janes and the shoes are way cute. I wear ankle socks with them and my manager who is one of the most fashion concious people I know continues to poke fun and tell me I should have little lace around the edges and have my hair in pigtails. I wear the sock for function over fashion, I have to have special orthodic inserts and they smell nasty if I wear nylons. I can't bring myself to go out in public that way after the comments I've had from fellow fashionistas at work...

Having said that, I think these pics are cute and you could get away with it in the right environment... retro gatherings, sock hops, etc... but definite NAY on the pants pic...

My final answer, though, is if you are going to dress in a way that is more dressy than most of society today, why get lazy at the socks? Dressing retro makes you far dressier than the societal standard of College sweatshirts and pajama pants... Don't slack at the socks.... so, Nay.

I love them with the pants. Like booties almost. But with the skirts they look a little too cutesy. I think I look too short when I wear them with a skirt, especially with a knee length skirt. Maybe with a shorter one, but definitely the pedal pusher pants with dark socks and lighter pumps. I think I'll go put that outfit together now!

i'm not anti-socks, but i like them better with flats than the heels. to me the whole idea of socks lends itself to a more casual look, so saddle shoes or loafers a la Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face makes more sense to me than pumps.

I say Yea...I have seen these in several magazine fashion spreads and really like how they look. I haven't tried them on me...I am afraid I will look quite ridiculous in them, but they sure look fun! Maybe I will give them a go now :)

Yea when swing dancing, as I tend to dress more '40s then, and it really pulls the look together. Nay when otherwise out in the world. I'd rather wear socks that barely show over the top of my shoe, or knee socks and tights when it's colder.

Very cute on young and slim and pretty girls, pretty much silly on everybody else. A lot of styles work much better in fashion editorial than they do in real life. But the cute pink knitted top makes me think about my next (well next next next) project :-)

i like them- sometimes they look quite put together as opposed to Lolita, but *I* can't wear them. They make my normally long legs look very stumpy. The only time i've ever really tolerated them was in costume for plays. Love them on other people when done well, though!

I have to vote nay... I have delicate little ankles, I love pretty heels, but I would feel like I was dressing like a child. I have enough trouble with not being taken seriously due to being young-seeming. It can work for others, but not for me :(

I wish it would work on me, I actually might try in the comfiness of my apartment, but I think you need long and lean legs for that... And also, shoes big enough to fit the socks in :S

Also, like when I was 16, I went along an award giving thing. I chose your blog as one of my five favorites.You don't have to do it too, but I just felt like telling the blog world how much I appreciate your work.

yea! I love it, but the socks must be super delicate to pull this off, so they're not weighing you down too much. Floral socks or ones with frills are really great too! This is a tricky look, for sure... use discretion if you don't have long model-y legs (yeah, most of us don't)!

Nay. Well I've seen lately in fashion magazines how girls wear ancle socks, in your post you show pictures of girls dressing very 50's style but I have seen pictures of modern girls with socks, I you must be very confidence in your outfit in order to do that, in a magazine they said perhaps you can start with socks of the same color as your shoes......

yes yes yes. i wear them with everything (but i only wear skirts and slip on shoes) i find pale colours or lacey ones are the best. and it means you don't have to wear shoes with bare feet in summer (i can't do that!) it does mean that your feet are whiter than your legs though so if you start the summer in them, you have to comit! :)but you won't look back. your style is perfect for it. xx x x x x x

I love it! I have so many shoes that rub against my heels that wearing socks is a lifesaver. Plus they keep your feet warm! What's not to love?

I'm disturbed by the number of people who think there are sexual connotations to them though, and feel obliged to avoid them because of it... surely the same could be said of backseamed stockings, yet we all love them!

I love the look of ankle socks, especially with kitten heels or cute little T-bar shoes. The ones with a little lace trim at the top that you fold over are adorable, but unfortunately the unshapely ankles I've inherited do not permit me to carry such a delightful look well. But seeing other people wearing them well (such as the beauties in the pictures) makes me happy enough lol.

Well I can see Peter's point about the almost uncomfortably youthful look of ankle socks and pumps. It's also an unflattering look for anybody who doesn't want to add layers or draw focus to their ankles.Yet I can't help but like the look. At least in the magazines. I've got nice ankles, but I'm borderline in age. Don't know if it would feel right on me anymore.

oh yey, but I am not sure my stumpy legs would benefit. Though I occasionally wear converse when I know I'll be walking a lot and I did add some lace to the tops of a pair of short socks and the look actually make my legs look longer in the converse. wow!

In photo's and with a stylists touch cute look with right age and legs....however, I saw a young woman strutting this look (socks with heels) downtown last week and I gotta say...not so good. So once out of secondary school....no. Too costume ish.

Absolutely yea! I wear them all the time. I'm quite short, but I think they look more flattering than people usually seem to think. In my opinion, ancle socks can add a nice splash of color to an outfit.

I have to admit I like the idea of ankle socks in theory--they're terribly useful for keeping one's feet warm and comfortable. But, on the other hand I can't get over how they do look kind of odd with the rest of the outfits (which is what usually has put me off them in all the other editorials/catalog images I've seen of models sporting the look!)--especially if they're skirts. That being said, it does give things a bit of a late 40s/50s bobby-soxer vibe, which is cute. I don't know--I think I'd have to try it out and see how I looked and whether I was gusty enough to wear it in public! lol.

The look can be cute and fashion-forward, but I say that it is only appropriate for those that already dress boldly and in trend. If you are adventurous and experimental in your look, and find yourself following many in-the-now trends, go for it. For those of us that stick to a more subdued, "normal" or off-the-rack look, tossing on ankle socks may just look like we put on a costume and are headed for the sock hop. I think it is cute, but to be worn judiciously.

Yea! I love my ankle socks, they add an alternative factor to my wardrobe, and they don't make you look like a child. Regardless of the forewarning that short girls need not wear them, being a girl under 5'4" I still think they look good!

I too rock the ankle socks with my black shoes when I go to work. I've always worn ankle socks and never liked tights when it gets hot. It is sort of a little girl look, but I'm short and in my 20's, so it works for me.

I have to wear socks or tights with shoes or else I end up with blisters and bleeding ankles. So yay from me.I also shamelessly wear socks with skirts/dresses when I dance....I notice in a lot of old newsreel film that dancers wear socks and shoes.

I know I'm late to the party with this one but Yea! I lurve ankle socks with heels. I rock that look all the time under my circle skirts or my wiggles. I'm neither tall nor thin, but it is still super cute and flattering. I get compliments when I'm out about it.